What social class would be the majority of the population in the Mayan society?

Discover the Mesoamerica Test. Prepare with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Ace your exam effortlessly!

In Mayan society, the majority of the population consisted of peasants. These individuals primarily engaged in agricultural labor, which was the backbone of the civilization’s economy. The peasants worked the land to grow staple crops such as maize, beans, and squash, sustaining not only themselves but also the higher social classes, including the nobility and priests.

In contrast, the king, nobles, and priests represented the elite classes with significantly smaller numbers. The king served as the political and spiritual leader, while nobles held significant power and wealth due to land ownership and governance roles. Priests, although influential in religious practices and rituals, also formed a limited class within the total population.

Thus, the predominance of peasants in the social structure reflects the need for a labor force to support the agriculture-driven economy and the hierarchical nature of Mayan society, where a small elite governed and controlled resources.

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